讀點好英文:The Old, Old Wine 陳年老酒

The Old, Old Wine 陳年老酒

Once there lived a rich man who was justly proud of his cellar and the wine therein. And there was one jug of ancient vintage kept for some occasion known only to himself.

The governor of the state visited him, and he bethought him and said，“That jug shall not be opened for a mere governor.”

And a bishop of the diocese visited him, but he said to himself，“Nay, I will not open that jug. He would not know its value, nor would its aroma reach his nostrils.”

The prince of the reaIm came and supped with him. But he thought，“It is too royal a wine for a mere princeling.”

And even on the day when his own nephew was married, he said to himself，“No, not to these guests shall that jug be brought forth.”

And the years passed by, and he died, an old man, and he was buried like unto every seed.

And upon the day that he was buried the ancient jug was brought out together with other jugs of wine, and it was shared by the peasants of the neighborhood. And none knew its great age.

To them, all that is poured into a cup is only wine.

從前，有一位富人，他很為自己的酒窖和里面存放的美酒感到驕傲。他有一壇陳年老酒，準備在一些特殊的場合享用，這只有他一個人知道。

州長來拜訪他，他仔細想過之后自語道：“為一個小小的州長就打開那壇酒不值得。”

轄區(qū)的一位主教來拜訪他，他自言自語地說：“不，我不會開那壇酒的。他不懂它的價值，就是酒香撲鼻他也未必能聞到！”

王子來和他一起吃晚飯，可他想：“這酒太高貴了，一個小王子不配喝啊?！?/p>

就是在他的親侄子結婚的那天，他還是自言自語地說：“不，這酒可不是為那些客人釀制的?！?/p>

很多年后，這個老人死了，他像種子一樣被埋入土中。

他下葬那天，那壇陳年老酒和別的酒一起被抱了出來，被周邊的農民喝掉了。根本沒有人知道它是哪年釀造的。

對他們而言，倒入杯中的不過是酒而已。

Practising&Exercise 實戰(zhàn)提升篇

單詞注解

creed[kri：d]n.（宗教）信條，教條

weary['wi?ri]a.疲倦的；困乏的；萎靡的

resume[ri'zju：m]v.重新開始；（中斷后）又繼續(xù)

diocese['dai?sis]n.主教管區(qū)，教區(qū)

reaIm[relm]n.王國；國度

實用句型

His mind wondered on the“real”picture he hoped to paint.

他的腦子里想著自己希望畫出來的“真實”之作。

Not a minute passed by that our children and I had not thought of you.

我和孩子們時刻都在想你。

No, not to these guests shall that jug be brought forth.

不，這酒可不是為那些客人釀制的。

智慧點津

East or west, home is the best.

金窩銀窩，不如自己的狗窩。

Many people like to treasure their favorite things, have to wait until a special opportunity to make it fully shown the greatest value. As everyone knows, to make the most of the thing is the best of its maximum value.

很多人喜歡珍藏自己的心愛之物，一定要等到一個特殊的機會讓它盡顯最大價值。殊不知，物盡其用就是它最大的價值。